
J 



THE AMERICAN LEGION 



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Glass £Xr^^^ 
Book_^l4L 



Copyright it?_. 



COP«?!GHT DEPOSHi 



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With deep appreciation, Theodore Roosevelt 
Post, No. 627, American Legion, acknowledges 
financial cooperation in the initial publication of 
this work, from Frank A. Vath, of Chicago, whose 
only son. Earl Joseph Vath, was killed in action at 
St. Trojan, France, on August 20, 191 8. 



T^O the splendid men and women who 
have offered, and given their lives to 
the creation and maintenance of American 
principles, this little volume is respectfully 
dedicated. 

The Author. 



Copyritht 1921 

Theodore Roosevelt Post No. 627 

American Legion 

Chicago 



a 



T HE SPIRIT OF '76 








GOD AND 
COUNTRY 

Compiled and Written by 

WM. HAY WILLIAMSON 

Illustrations by 

ALBIN HENNING 

Printed and Distributed by 
ALLIED ADVERTISING ARTS 

Published by 

Vfieodore Roosevelt Post No. 627 



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THE AMERICAN LEGION 

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ENDORSED BY 

Warren G. Hardino 
Preudeni of the United States 

John W. Weeks 
Secretary of War 

Edwin Denby 
Secretary of the Navy 

Theodore Roosevelt 
Ass't Secretary of the Navy 

John G. Emery 
National Commander The American Legion 

Wm. R. McCauley 

Commander Illinois Department 

American Legion 

Col. R. p. Dickerson 

Commander-in-Chief y and 

The Board of Directors, 

National Loyalty League. 



OCT 22 iS2l 
©C1A628060 




FOREWORD 



AMONG the numerous harsh lessons taught us by the great 
war, one which demands most careful consideration and 
treatment is the large percentage of foreign born in our 
population, and their apparent misconception of what this 
country is, what it stands for, and the travail endured in giving 
birth to the ideals for which we entered the war. 

One may take any of the more than two-score distinct foreign 
nationalities which have come to this country during the past 
fifty years, and at least seventy-five per cent of them arc as 
utterly unass imilated as when they landed on our shores. And 
we Americans are largely to blame. 

When I speak of two-score nationalities, my contention may 
be questioned, but a brief consideration of post-war events in 
Europe will quickly disclose its accuracy. When the question 
of self determination of small nations arose, nations of which 
most of the people of this country had never heard, sprang up 
especially in the territory formerly held by Austria-Hungary, 
in Russia and the Balkans. 

The fact that they have sprung up, and in many cases have 
just claims to nationality, based upon mother tongue, traits, 
and physical characteristics, I submit in support of my premise 
that most of the immigrants who have come to this country 
have not been assimilated. 



These small nationalities are composed of the descendants 
of conquered peoples, absorbed but not assimilated by the con- 
queror. It is a well established fact that many a Saxon-German 
hates the Prussian-German, yet the extent of Saxon subjection 
to Prussia was not comparable to that of nations brought under 
the Hapsburg and Romanoff rule. 

Through the generations and centuries that subjection has 
rankled. From generation to generation the hate has been 
passed on. The only effort made by the conquering nation to 
assimilate them was by force — sometimes bland force, but 
nevertheless force. Resistance was more often passive than 
active, but it existed and continued. Flags, standards, regalia 
of the old regimes were hidden and treasured against the day 
when they might again be used. Records and traditions were 
preserved, often by word of mouth, passed on from father to 
son, from mother to daughter. 

You may say that that does not apply here, because these 
people have come to this country of their own accord; that there 
is no ground for hatred here, no element of subjection, no reason 
for cherishing the old fires of nationality, so far as our nation is 
concerned. That is quite true, and there has been little of 
anything else. 

We have here our careful observance of Washington's Biith- 
day, and Lincoln's Birthday — both in the same month. And 
we also have herds of Washington laundries, and Washington 
"whatnots." We have also Lincoln "this and thats", and early 
in 1921 a beastly murder was committed in the "Lincoln Gar- 
dens" of Chicago, where the name and undying fame of our 
martyr president were prostituted, instead of being revered. 

Why should the foreigner regard our national heroes in a 
reverent light when he sees them used by Americans as "patron 
saints" for places that are sordid and even criminal? 

Why should he thrill at the mention of our great history 
making events when virtually the only mention that comes to 
his attention is for the purpose of advertising anything from 
cocktails to corsets? 

The reason the incoming foreigner clings to his own old heroes, 
traditions and beliefs is because no adequate substitute is offered 
him here. You may challenge that statement, but I tell you 
that in some foreign nations a fairly proper concept of our George 
Washington and Abraham Lincoln is taught in the public schools. 



Yet the foreign boy loses that concept on coming here because 
of the gross affront offered their memory by our public careless- 
ness. 

I have queried people of foreign birth, and invariably have 
been assured that the lightness, the disrespect, the almost con- 
tempt with which our great heroes and events are held in this 
country, would not be tolerated in their own nations, as of their 
own national heroes and events. 

What, then, are the mental processes of the children of these 
immigrants? They are born here, are citizens by birth and 
even eligible to the presidency of the United States. For the 
most part they cling together in sections, at least through the 
receptive period of the second generation. They go to school 
and in a desultory way are taught some American history. They 
also see what they see. They learn that the political "boss" of 
the ward is a great and powerful man. They see that Washing- 
ton and Lincoln, whom they are taught, in school, to revere, 
are used with a gross familiarity that breeds contempt. 

This disregard for our great heroes, historic events, institu- 
tions and principles, is not confined to our foreign born popula- 
tion or their children. It is omnipresent among the American 
people. Do you doubt it? What proportion of the American 
people know when, where and how the American flag was first 
flown? When, where and under what circumstances "The Star 
Spangled Banner" was written? How many know the anthem? 
Every Greek knows the story of Thermopylae. How many 
Americans know the story of the American Thermopylae — the 
Alamo? How many know when, where and why Paul Revere 
made his famous ride, and of its immediate result — the Battle 
of Lexington? During the past four years many thousands of 
Americans have discussed the Monroe Doctrine. How many 
know what it really is, when and how it was promulgated? 

There are more genuine, honorable thrills in the history of 
the United States than in any other national history. There are 
almost endless stories of hard facts, the telling of which, even 
in a dispassionate way, is enough to quicken the heart and warm 
the blood of any real man. 

Here is a Chinese proverb which I commend: — 

"Only imbeciles want credit for the achievements of their 
ancestors." 



That is true, but it is a mighty good thing to keep alive the 
record, and whenever opportunity offers, to emulate the deeds 
of our ancestors — if not our individual, our national ancestors. 
Americans always do so when war comes, but it is utterly wrong 
to wait for war, because the opportunity to fight for right is daily. 

There is another Chinese proverb which I commend. (Per- 
haps the reason why I quote Chinese proverbs is that no one 
can accuse me of trying to curry favor with the Chinese vote.) 
Here it is: — 

"One more good man on earth is better than an extra angel 
in heaven." 

We can get many another good man here on this American 
earth if we go about it systematically. Sporadic, localized 
attempts to promulgate Americanism are as futile as to have 
attacked the Hindenburg Line with a corporal's guard. There 
is a way in which a systematic barrage may be laid down over 
the whole of this nation at regular intervals, through the medium 
of the newspapers. 

So I herewith submit twelve brief statements, each commemo- 
rating some stirring, highly important event in our American 
history, one for each month. There are more pertaining to the 
American Revolution than to any other time or series of events, 
but that is natural, since the Revolution saw the birth of this 
nation and the evolution of most of our finest principles and 
ideals. 

Let me here mention a significant fact. Standing voluntarily 
shoulder to shoulder in the Continental Army with George 
Washington, the American colonist, to found a new nation upon 
principles of justice, were General Sir William Alexander, of 
the British nobility; the Baron DeKalb, of Bavaria; the Marquis 
de La Fayette, of France; Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Casimir 
Pulaski, of Poland, and the Baron von Steuben, of Prussia. 

Now that the nation is formed, and has become the world's 
greatest nation, every permanent resident must stand shoulder 
to shoulder with every other permanent resident, in maintaining 
those principles, to the exclusion of every foreign power. 

I recommend and urge that looo daily newspapers in the United 
States be requested to devote once a month, the brief space neces- 
sary to print these narratives in a box on the front page. 

With the exception of the Monroe Doctrine, they are so brief 
as to occupy less than an average quarter column of space, or 



approximately three columns of space per year^ for all of them. 
And I believe that no misgivings need be entertained regarding 
the general attitude of American newspapers. From April 6, 
1917, until November 11, 1918, they amply proved their sterling 
patriotism. 

Through the cooperation of the newspapers, a barrage of his- 
toric facts, of thrilling information, of necessary reminders, may 
be laid down to at least sixty millions of our population in a 
day, twelve times per year. By this means more than half of 
Qur population may twelve times per year be caused to think of 
the same thing at the same time. 

I seek the cumulative effect of simultaneous thought. It will 
W most benevolently effective, and IT CAN BE DONE. Any 
Other media of expression which individuals or communities 
may employ should be acknowledged with deep appreciation. 

The fact that these twelve narratives do not include Lincoln's 
Birthday or Flag Day is neither a matter of carelessness nor 
disrespect. The former is already a national holiday, carefully 
observed, and the latter, thanks to the able and worthy efforts 
of the Flag Day Association will soon, I hope and believe, be 
also a national holiday. 

Yours for the United People of the United States of America. 

Wm. Hay Williamson. 




THERE IS A TIME TO FIGHT AND 
THAT TIME HAS NOW COME" 




JANUARY l4^iJT6 
(iMuhlenher0'^Jl}nerican 



THE Rev. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg 
ascended the pulpit of the Lutheran church 
at Woodstock, Virginia, on Sunday, January 14, 
1776, preached an impassioned sermon, and con- 
cluded with these words: 

"There is a time for all things, a time to 
preach and a time to pray; and there is a time to 
fight and that time has now come. May the God 
of Hosts be with us!'' 

Putting aside his vestments he stood arrayed 
in the full uniform of a colonel of the Conti- 
nental Army, by commission from George Wash- 
ington. 

"Those who will," said he, "follow me." 
Walking into the churchyard he recruited a regi- 
ment on the spot, and marched to the relief of 
Charleston, S. C. 

Serving brilliantly through the Revolution, he 
emerged as Major General Muhlenberg, and his 
statue stands today in the capitol at Washington. 
Of such was this nation formed. 

Long live the United States of America! 



T HE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY" 




FEBRUARY 22^1732 

Washington s birthday 



THE fate of the modern world lay in a cradle 
at Pope's Creek, Va., on February 22, 1732, 
when George Washington was born, the son of 
Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. 

A brilliant statesman and soldier at 26, he became 
commander-in-chief of the Continental Army when 
only 43 years old. His conduct as a man and a 
soldier during the war of the American Revolution 
won the respectful admiration of the world, and to 
him, more than any other individual, we owe the 
independence of this greatest nation. 

George Washington's most sublime moment was 
when he was offered and declined the crown and throne 
of King of America. Instead, on April 6, 1789, he 
was chosen our first President of the United States, 
thus sealing the pledge of government by the people. 

Twice he was unanimously chosen president, after 
which he voluntarily retired from public life, and on 
December 14, 1799, went to his great reward. 

Truly he was the Father of his Country, — "First 
in War, First in Peace, and First in the hearts of 
his Countrymen." To his splendid principles and 
memory this nation is consecrated. 

Long live the United States of America! 



THE THERMOPYIAE OF 
A 



AMERICA 




MARCH 6^1836 
Tiemember the Jllaifnol 



^TpODAY is the anniversary of the "Ther- 
^ mopylae of America.'* After a continu- 
ous artillery bombardment from February 23 
to March 6, 1836, General Santa Anna, with 
5jOOO trained Mexican soldiers, assaulted the 
Alamo, in San Antonio. 

The old mission fort was defended by a 
garrison of 145, under command of Colonel 
W. B. Travis, aided by Colonel ** Jim** Bowie 
and Colonel **Davy** Crockett. Not one 
American surrendered. Every one died fight- 
ing, and the Mexicans lost more than 1,200 
killed and wounded. 

Forty-six days later Colonel Sam Houston, 
with 750 Americans, smashed Santa Anna's 
army, captured him, and Texas became a 
great state of the Union. Thermopylae had 
two messengers oi" defeat. The Alamo had 
none. 

Long live the United States of America! 



On to LEXINGTON" 




APRIL 18-^1775 



PAUL REVERE was one of the organizers 
of the Massachusetts *' Minute Men/' so 
called because each was always ready to act 
at a minute's notice. 

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Revere 
learned that British troops were moving from 
barracks and ships to capture the great patriot 
leaders at Lexington and Concord, seize sup- 
plies, and thus nip in the bud the hopes of the 
Colonies for independence. 

Revere crossed from Boston to Charleston 
by boat, mounted a horse, and either dodging 
or dashing through several enemy patrols, 
galloped through the night, halting at each 
farm house and rousing the Minute Men who 
hurried after him to Lexington. 

There, the following day, was fired the 
"shot heard round the world," at the Battle 
of Lexington. There the first American blood 
of the Revolution was shed, and the war that 
established our independence was on. 

Had the patriot leaders been captured, the 
American Revolution might never have oc- 
curred. Revere saved the day. 

Long live the United States of America! 



A ND GRIDLEY WAS READY ! 




MAY 1^1898 

battle of JVlantla ^ay 



EARLY in the morning of May i, 1898, in Manila 
Bay, Commodore George Dewey said to Cap- 
tain Charles V. Gridley, commanding his flag- 
ship, the Olympia: — 

"You may fire when ready, Gridley." 

The American squadron consisted of seven warships 
which had deliberately steamed through scores of 
enemy mines. The Spanish squadron, under Admiral 
Montojo, consisted of twelve warships. Though 
some of the American ships were larger than the 
Spanish, the latter were supported by powerful land 
batteries and had the very strong advantage. 

After three hours of fighting, the entire Spanish 
squadron was totally destroyed, — either sunk or 
burned, — the white flag of surrender was raised above 
the land batteries, and the Americans did not lose 
a ship or a man! 

Living up to its finest traditions, the American Navy 
astounded the world by this overwhelming victory, 
which was duplicated two months later at Santiago 
when Admiral Cervera's fleet was annihilated with 
the loss of just one American sailor. 

May I, 1898, saw the end of autocracy on the 
Western Hemisphere, for after that victory the whole 
v/orld knew that the Spanish-American war could 
have but one end — victory for the Americans. 

Long live the United States of America! 



PIRACY BOWS TO THE 
AMERICAN FLAG " 




JUNE 20^^1815 

'i^Millions for defense but 
not one cent for tribute 



ON June 20, 1 81 5, an American squadron 
under Commodore Stephen Decatur 
smashed the Barbary pirates in a furious battle 
off Cartagena, Spain, and instilled an ever- 
lasting respect for the American flag in the 
Mediterranean. 

For more than 300 years these pirates, with 
fortified cities, armies and fleets of war vessels, 
had preyed upon the commerce of the Christ- 
ian world. When this great battle occurred, 
six maratime nations were paying annual 
tribute to the Dey of Algiers. 

Spain, France, England and Holland tried 
for three centuries to break their power, and 
failed, and when the pirates demanded tribute 
from the United States of America, President 
James Madison, repeating the words made 
famous by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 
when Minister to France, said: — 

"Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute T ^ 

And Decatur proved it. This infant nation 
succeeded where all others failed. 

Long live the United States of America! 



P ROCLMM UBERTY THROUGH 



OUT ALL THE LAND 






ryaaSKprsa&i 




JULY 4^1776 

The Declaration of 
Independence 



FIFTY-SEVEN American patriots, forming 
the Congress of our original thirteen 
colonies, unanimously adopted the Declara- 
tion of American Independence at Indepen- 
dence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa., on July 4, 1776. 

Each knew he was risking his life when he 
penned his name, and Benjamin Franklin said: 

**We must hang together or we will hang 
separately." 

Then and there the Liberty Bell pealed 
forth thJe great message inscribed on its rim: — 

''Proclaim Liberty throughout all the landy 
unto all the 'inhabitants thereof.'' 

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration, 
which laid down for all time the splendid 
principle that governments derive their just 
powers from the consent of the governed. That 
is the cornerstone of democracy. 

While the signers were mutually pledging "their lives, 
their fortunes and their sacred honor" to the Declaration of 
Independence, George Washington and the Continental Army 
were proving every paragraph of the world's most classic 
statement of political truths. 

Long live the United States of America! 



ft 




ET'S GO! 




AUGUST 9 ^1918 

%e Independent ^American 
cArmy in Jrance 



THEIR mettle amply proved at Cantigny, 
Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood and 
Solssons, the supreme Allied command decided 
that American troops were entirely able to 
act as an independent force. 

From every point of view the organization 
of such a force was justified. Therefore the 
formation of THE AMERICAN ARMY, 
under sole command of General Pershing, was 
decided upon on August 9, 191 8, in a confer- 
ence between Marshal Foch and General 
Pershing. 

The moment was propitious, the emergency 
that had previously justified the dispersion 
of our divisions had passed. The intrepid dash and splendid 
valor of our troops had definitely turned the tide of war to 
the Allied side. 

Then came St. Mihiel; the Meuse-Argonne; the distinctly 
American offensive that encircled Metz; a rapid succession of 
decisive American victories that compelled the enemy to sue 
for peace on the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the 
Eleventh month of 191 8. 

Meanwhile the only U-boats which the American Navy did 
not "get" were those that did not dare to risk an encounter. 

Long live the United States of America! 



B YTHE DAWN'S EARLY UGHT 




SEPTEMBER 13^1814 
TTie Star Spangled Banner 



TOURING the bombardment of Fort Mc- 
^-^ Henry by the British in the War of 1812, 
Francis Scott Key, on September 13, 18 14, 
composed** The Star Spangled Banner" aboard 
a vessel rocked by the cannonade. Sing it 
today! 

**0h, say, can you see 

By the dawn's early light 
What so proudly we hailed 

At the twilight's last gleaming? 
Whose broad stripes and bright stars 
Through the perilous fight. 

O'er the ramparts we watched 
Were so gallantly streaming. 
And the rockets' red glare, 
The bombs bursting in air, 

Gave proof through the night 
That our flag was still there: 
Oh, say, does that Star 

Spangled Banner yet wave? 
O'er the land of the free 

And the home of the brave!" 

Long live the United States of America! 



D EMOCRACY TRIUMPHANT 




OCTOBER 19^-1781 

njie Surrender of 
Yorkiown 



OUT generaled by Washington, his retreat 
cut off by land and water, his outposts 
captured and his fortifications crumbling 
under cannon fire, Lord Cornwallis surren- 
dered his powerful British army at Yorktown, 
Va., on October 19, 1781, and the War of the 
American Revolution was won. 

With his three divisions commanded by the 
superb La Fayette, Von Steuben and Lincoln, 
Commander-in-Chief George Washington and 
the American troops were supported by a 
French army under the Compte de Rocham- 
beau, and a French fleet under the Compte de 
Grasse. From that day the torch of freedom, 
held high through nearly seven weary years 
of war, has illumined the world. 

The best minds in Britain rejoiced at the 
American victory at Yorktown; the city of 
London entreated King George to end "this 
unfortunate and unrighteous war," and on 
February 22, 1782, — Washington's Birthday, 
the House of Commons voted to sue for peace. 

Long live the United States of America! 



iA UTOCRACY CRUSHED" 




NOVEMBER 11 ^1918 

jJrmisiice T)ay 



BEATEN on land, on water and in the air, 
representatives of the Hohenzollern dynas- 
ty pleaded for a cessation of hostilities, and 
on November ii, 191 8, THE ARMISTICE 
was signed, thus ending the most fearful war 
in history. 

It was pre-eminently a victory for American 
principles and ideals. The tide of battle 
turned the moment that the Stars and Stripes, 
borne by free Americans, floated at the front. 

The flood tide of democracy rose at Cantig- 
ny, swept onward through Chateau Thierry, 
Belleau Wood and Soissons, and overwhelmed 
autocracy in the Argonne. 

THE ARMISTICE marked the fruition 
and world exposition of the hope expressed by 
Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg in November, 

1863:- 

^^ That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to 
that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion 
— that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died 
in vain — that this nation^ under God^ shall have a new birth 
of freedom — and that government of the people^ by the people^ 
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'' 

Long live the United States of America! 



T HE STRONG PROTECTING 
* THE WEAK" 




DECEMBER 2^1823 
"TTie cMonroe T)ocirine 



TODAY is the anniversary of the birth of the 
Monroe Doctrine. On December 2, 1823, 
President James Monroe sent to Congress his 
deathless message, to wit: — 

"The political system of the (European) powers is 
essentially different from that of America This 
difference proceeds from that which exists in their 
respective governments. And to the defense of our 
own, which has been achieved by the loss of so much 
blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of 
their most enlightened citizens, and under which we 
have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this whole nation 
is devoted. 

**We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the ami- 
cable relations existing between the United States 
and those powers, to declare that we should consider 
any attempt on their part to extend their system to 
any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to our 
peace and safety. 

"With the existing colonies or dependents of any 
European power we have not interfered, and shall 
not interfere. But with the governments who have 
declared their independence, and maintained it, and 
whose independence we have, on great consideration 

and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition 
for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner 
their destiny, by any European power, in any other light than as the 
manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States." 

This policy of the strong protecting the weak has always since been 
maintained and commands the healthy respect of the world. 

Long live the United States of America! 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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